Biz Bits: People and businesses in the news

PeopleKen Armstrong has been appointed Mill Creek city manager. He will begin work Dec. 3. Armstrong is currently the director of Security, Emergency Management and Safety for Seattle Public Utilities. His previous positions with the city of Seattle included administrator of the regional hazardous waste management program in King County and director of solid waste at Seattle Public Utilities.Eric Stjern of Snohomish has been named a financial representative for Country Financial. He recently completed training focused on guiding clients toward successfully setting and achieving goals. Stjern will serve clients from his office in Arlington.John Alexander, attorney and founder of The John Alexander Law Firm in Everett, has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Washington State Chiropractic Association. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice, American Association for Justice and the Snohomish County Bar Association. He also organizes blood drives for the Puget Sound Blood Center.KudosEverett State Farm Insurance agent Tony Edwards, a citizen airman from Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 446th Airlift Wing, has received his second Bronze Star in three years as a logistics officer. The 43-year-old major earned his second star after playing an essential role in successfully transferring control of Kirkuk Regional Air Base to Iraqi control in 2011. Housing Hope hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Event on Nov. 8. The event honored individuals who volunteer time at the agency. Among those honored were Bruce and Tamara Anderson, Tracy Bryson, Jeff Capeloto, Tammy Hester and Nicole Van Beek. Carol Jensen was presented with a Presidential Lifetime Service Award.Group Health has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Group Health received a 100 percent rating on the 2013 Corporate Equality Index for corporate policies and practices related to LGBT employees and their families.Fired Up Christian Wear, based in Everett, is a finalist for a funding initiative by Boston-based VoltCrowd. With the funding, the urban clothing brand for Christian men ages 14 to 24 plans to develop a line of top-notch graphic tees, hoodies and hats that feature bold, non-condemning Christian messages.Good deedsGlacier Peak High School's football booster club recently received $3,140 from Harris Ford Lincoln. During the dealership's Drive Smart for Your School event, $20 was contributed for each qualifying test drive of a new Lincoln. The check was presented Nov. 2 during Glacier Peak's playoff game against Seattle Preparatory School.EventsThe next broadcast of "Getting Your Dough To Rise" on KSER (90.7 FM), with host Chuck Noel, will feature tax-saving ideas, what's hot and what's not in antiques and collectibles, the state of charitable giving and other consumer information. Listeners are welcome to call during the broadcast from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.The new Qdoba Mexican Grill in Mill Creek is celebrating a grand opening with special promotions and events this week. The restaurant is at 16314 Bothell-Everett Highway.The 45th annual Pacific Marine Expo is Tuesday through Thursday at CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle. More information is at www.KingCountyMaritime.com.The next Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours event is 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday at the Canoes Cabaret Room in the Tulalip Resort Casino. The theme is "A Caring Community Putting the Quality in our Quality of Life." It will feature the Marysville Food Bank, Salvation Army and Goodwill. For reservations, email admin@marysvilletulalipchamber.com or call 360-659-7700.Local Edward Jones financial adviser Sterling Gurney will host his next monthly coffee club at 10 a.m. on Dec. 6 at 602 Second Street, Suite C, in Snohomish. The event occurs every first Thursday of the month.Cascadia Community College has partnered with Everett Community College's Corporate and Continuing Education Center to expand courses and training. An open house is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Cascadia Community College, Building CC1-041, in Bothell. RSVP to www.everettcc.edu/bothell to receive a parking permit.AnnouncementsEverett, Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue and Bellingham will create an online portal to make it easier for businesses to obtain business licenses and to pay local business and occupation taxes. It will especially benefit companies conduct business in multiple cities. The portal is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2014. For more information, go online at www.multicitybusinessportal.org.Snohomish County and partner cities and agencies have been awarded more than $31 million in 2012 federal transportation funding by the Puget Sound Regional Council. Along with required local matches, the funding will pay for $45 million in road repairs and improvements and transit service throughout the county.Frontier Satellite Broadband is now available in rural markets in northwest Washington. The satellite-based broadband service will deliver speed and capacity to several hundred thousand households and small businesses within markets previously unserved or under-served by any broadband provider, including cable.A new online portal has been launched by the U.S. Small Business Administration to accept nominations for the 2013 National Small Business Week awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year award. The website at nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov is accepting nominations.Send your Biz Bits news and high-resolution color photos by email to businessnews@heraldnet.com.

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